JP2002287942A - Print control device, information processor, data processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely provide a printing environment with excellent convenience capable of correctly understanding the consumption of consumables to be actually consumed by a printing unit in each printing job, and freely notifying the consumption at the request from an information processor. SOLUTION: The consumption of consumables to be consumed by the printing unit 1-9 is detected by the output of the printing job before and after the output from the printing job. The detected consumption is registered in and controlled by an external memory 1-3 for each printing job as notifiable consumption information to a host computer 2000, and the consumption information is notified to the host computer 2000.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a data processing method, and a storage medium capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computers have been interconnected via a local area network (LAN), and LAN connections have become possible even with various peripheral devices such as page printers.

[0003] The LAN enables the shared use of computers and peripheral devices and data transfer as one user group. The LAN is composed of a group of computers including a file server and a print server, and functions as a network operating system mounted on each computer. It supports various protocols for transferring and sharing data and files, and sharing printers.

[0004] Various types of user applications running on each computer, such as document creation software and spreadsheet software, have been put to practical use. Data created by using these applications is converted into a printer control language, PDL (Print
er Description Language) data,
In many cases, the print job is temporarily stored in a print spooler and sent to a printer.

In this case, depending on the operating system, the print file is transferred to the print spooler as a print file converted into a specific data format, and then a print job is generated by the printer driver software in the print spooler and re-generated by the print spooler. May be stored.

[0006] In addition, a print job is not only composed of PDL data, but depending on the operating system, it may be possible to generate print data in a raster bitmap format.

In some cases, the print job generated by the printer driver software is transmitted to a printer spooler in a print server connected to a network, and then transmitted to a printer.

When the print job generated as described above is transferred from the print spooler to the printer, the printer sequentially analyzes the received print data by a PDL analysis unit or the like, and outputs a raster pit map image to be printed. And print processing is performed.

Here, a print job is a unit generated from one or a plurality of document files and constitutes one print document, and is usually separated by a job start command and a job end command.

When the printer stores and holds an input print job and mounts a hard disk as a large-capacity (A3 paper, 8 MB at a resolution of 600 DPI) storage area to execute reprinting or the like. There is also.

Further, communication protocols for remotely managing devices including a network-connected printer, various devices for constructing a network, and computers connected to the network have been standardized. Protocol (SNMP:
Simple Network Management Protocol).

In the case of a network device that implements these protocols, various devices can be managed from a remote location on the network by network management software. For example, in the case of a printer, the current printer information (paper and Acquisition information of toner and other consumables, remaining amount information), status monitoring (processing, error status, etc.),
Initialization control and the like can be performed.

In some cases, a parallel interface capable of bidirectional transmission / reception is configured so that current printer information and status information can be exchanged between a computer and a printer using a dedicated protocol.

Further, since the conventional printing system is configured as described above, the consumables consumption information (number of used papers, used toner amount, etc.) consumed by the print job generated by the printer driver is calculated. The system is configured to predict whether the processing of a print job waiting for output will result in a shortage of consumables.

[0015]

As described above, in the conventional printing system, the consumables consumption information (number of used papers,
In order to calculate (estimate) the amount of used toner, etc., it has always been difficult to predict the exact amount of consumables actually consumed.

Further, some user systems desire to accurately grasp the amount of consumption required for printing in various fixed formats such as form documents, and to accurately calculate the consumption cost of consumables involved in printing. It has been difficult to make accurate predictions even for demands.

Further, in a printing system having a large-capacity storage area capable of storing a print job, the analysis of the print job is performed at the output processing stage of the print job to estimate the consumption of consumables. Had occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to output a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium to a printing unit. A controllable printing control device detects consumption of consumables consumed by the printing unit by outputting a print job before and after outputting a print job, and notifies the information processing device of the detected consumption. By registering and managing the information for each print job in the storage device, the amount of consumables actually consumed by the printing unit in each print job can be accurately grasped and responded to by a request from the information processing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a print control device, a data processing method, and a storage medium that can freely construct a print processing environment with excellent convenience for notifying freely.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit, and requesting a print job received from the information processing apparatus. In accordance with this, before and after the output of the print job, the amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit is detected before and after the output of the print job, and the detected amount of consumption is processed. Consumables that are actually consumed by the printing unit in each print job registered to be reprintable on the print control device by registering and managing each print job in the storage device as consumption information that can be notified to the device Control device, data processing method, and storage device capable of freely constructing a convenient print processing environment that accurately grasps the consumption amount of printers and freely notifies according to a request from an information processing device It is to provide a body.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of transferring a print job generated to a print control apparatus for controlling the output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium. And obtains print job information, analyzes the obtained print job information, and displays the print job name registered on the display device and the consumption information of consumables consumed by the print output of each print job. When a print job to be printed is selected from the displayed print job names, the remaining amount of consumables of the printing unit detected by the print control device is acquired, and the acquired remaining amount and the acquired remaining amount are obtained. By determining whether the selected print job can be printed by comparing the consumption information with the consumption information and controlling transmission of an output instruction to the print control device for the selected print job based on the determination result. For each print job registered by transferring to the print control device, the consumption information for each print job managed by the print control device is acquired and clearly indicated to the user, and the consumables consumed in each job are acquired. Convenient print processing that allows the user to recognize the amount of consumption and clearly indicates to the user that the print job selected to be reprinted cannot be printed with the remaining amount of consumables obtained from the print control device. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, a data processing method, and a storage medium that can freely construct an environment.

[0021]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a printing unit (corresponding to a printing unit 1-9 shown in FIG. 2) receives a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium.
2. A printing control device capable of controlling the output of the printing unit, the detecting unit detecting the consumption amount of the consumables consumed by the printing unit by outputting the print job. The remaining amount detecting unit 1 provided in the printing unit 1-9 shown in FIG. -9A) can be notified to the information processing device,
Management means for registering and managing consumption information indicating the consumption amount detected by the detection means together with the job identification information issued to the print job in a storage device (a consumption amount measuring unit 1-10 shown in FIG. 2, a consumption information (Corresponding to the management unit 1-11).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a judging means (corresponding to a judgment processing program stored in the ROM 1-2 shown in FIG. 2) for judging an output completion state of each print job received from the information processing apparatus. Reading the consumption information for each print job stored in the storage device, when the determination unit determines that each print job has been output,
A notification unit (corresponding to a notification processing program stored in the ROM 1-2 shown in FIG. 2) for transmitting the consumption information to the information processing apparatus together with the job end notification.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit. An external storage device (corresponding to the external memory 1-3 shown in FIG. 2) so that the job can be reprinted on demand.
Registration means (consumption information management unit 1-1 shown in FIG. 2)
And detection means for detecting the amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit due to the output of the print job (corresponding to the remaining amount detection unit 1-9 provided in the printing unit 1-9 shown in FIG. 2). When,
Management means (consumption information management unit 1 shown in FIG. 2) for registering and managing consumption information indicating the amount of consumption detected by the detection means, which can be notified to the information processing apparatus, in the external storage device in association with a print job; -11) and a notification for transmitting print job information representing a print job stored in the external storage device and consumption information associated with the print job based on an acquisition request from the information processing device. Means (Fig. 2
(Equivalent to a notification processing program stored in the ROM 1-2 shown in FIG. 1).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the notifying means (corresponding to a notification processing program stored in the ROM 1-2 shown in FIG. 2) is configured to perform the following based on a first acquisition request from the information processing apparatus. Transmitting print job information representing the print job stored in the external storage device, and, based on a second acquisition request from the information processing device, consumption information associated with the print job selected by the information processing device Is transmitted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the print job registered in the external storage device is print information for printing a predetermined form document.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the management means adds job identification information to consumption information for each print job and registers the information in the external storage device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the consumable supplies include paper, developer, and staples consumed by the printing process of the printing unit.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that said detecting means consumes in said printing unit by outputting either a print job received from said information processing device or a print job registered in said external storage device. This is to detect the amount of consumables consumed.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, based on a registered job output control instruction received from the information processing apparatus, output data generated by reading any print job registered in the external storage device is generated. It has output control means (corresponding to an output processing program stored in the ROM 1-2 shown in FIG. 2) for outputting from the printing unit.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a print job can be received by communicating with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via the predetermined communication medium.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print job generated for a print control device (corresponding to the printer control unit 1001 shown in FIG. 2) for controlling output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium. Is an information processing apparatus (corresponding to the host computer 2000 shown in FIG. 2) which can transfer the print job information, and obtains print job information registered and managed by the print control apparatus (a management program shown in FIG. 3). 2-8), the print job information acquired by the first acquisition unit is analyzed, and the print job names registered in the display device and the consumption of consumables consumed by the print output of each print job are analyzed. Display control means for displaying information (FIG. 3
And a selection unit (FIG. 3) for selecting a print job to be printed from the print job names displayed on the display device by the display control unit.
And the selection of the job information displayed on the display unit 2-4 by operating the operation unit 2-5) and the remaining amount of the consumables of the printing unit detected by the print control device. Second acquiring means for acquiring (the management program 2-8 shown in FIG. 3)
), And comparing the remaining amount acquired by the second acquisition unit with the consumption information acquired by the first acquisition unit to determine whether the print job selected by the selection unit can be printed. Determining means (corresponding to the management program 2-8 shown in FIG. 3) for determining whether or not an output instruction to the print control apparatus for the print job selected by the selecting means is provided based on the determination result by the determining means. Output control means for controlling transmission (the management program 2 shown in FIG. 3)
-8).

[0032] In a twelfth aspect according to the present invention, the display control means determines that the selected print job cannot be printed on the display device when the determination means determines that the selected print job cannot be printed. It can be displayed.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method in a print control apparatus capable of controlling output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit. A detecting step of detecting the amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit based on the output (FIG. 4)
And management for registering and managing in the storage device, together with the job identification information issued for the print job, the consumption information indicating the consumption amount detected by the detection unit, which can be notified to the information processing apparatus. (Steps S409 and S410 shown in FIG. 4).

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a step of determining the output completion state of each print job received from the information processing apparatus (corresponding to step S507 shown in FIG. 5)
Reading the consumption information for each print job stored in the storage device and transmitting the consumption information together with a job end notification to the information processing device when it is determined in the determination step that the output of each print job is completed. Notification step (corresponding to step S411 shown in FIG. 4).

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data processing method in a print control apparatus capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit. A registration step (not shown) for registering a print job received from a printer in an external storage device so that it can be reprinted on demand, and a detection step for detecting the amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit by outputting the print job Steps (corresponding to step S501 shown in FIG. 5);
A management step of registering and managing in the external storage device, consumption information indicating a consumption amount detected by the detection unit, which can be notified to the information processing apparatus, in association with a print job (FIG. 5)
And print job information representing the print job stored in the external storage device based on the acquisition request from the information processing device, and consumption information associated with the print job. Notification step (not shown) for transmitting.

[0036] In a sixteenth aspect according to the present invention, in the notification step, the print job information representing the print job stored in the external storage device is transmitted based on a first acquisition request from the information processing device. Then, based on a second acquisition request from the information processing device, the consumption information associated with the print job selected by the information processing device is transmitted.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the print job registered in the external storage device is print information for printing a predetermined form document.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the management step, job identification information is added to consumption information for each print job and registered in the external storage device.

In a nineteenth aspect according to the present invention, the consumable supplies include paper, developer, and staples consumed by the printing process of the printing unit.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the detecting step includes the step of: receiving a print job received from the information processing apparatus;
Alternatively, the amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit is detected based on any output of a print job registered in the external storage device.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, based on a registered job output control instruction received from the information processing apparatus,
An output control step of causing the printing unit to output output data generated by reading any print job registered in the external storage device.

A twenty-second invention according to the present invention relates to a data processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of transferring a print job generated to a print control apparatus for controlling output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium. A first acquisition step (corresponding to steps S601 and S602 shown in FIG. 6) for acquiring print job information registered and managed by the print control device, and the printing acquired by the first acquisition step. A display control step (corresponding to step S603 shown in FIG. 6) of analyzing the job information and displaying the print job name registered on the display device and the consumption information of the consumables consumed by the print output of each print job; A selection step of selecting a print job to be printed from the print job names displayed on the display device by the display control step (step S6 shown in FIG. 6); And equivalent) in 4, a second acquisition step of acquiring a remaining amount of consumables of the printing unit which is detected by the printing control apparatus (corresponding to step S605 shown in FIG. 6)
And comparing the remaining amount obtained in the second obtaining step with the consumption information obtained in the first obtaining step to determine whether the print job selected by the selecting means can be printed. A determination step (corresponding to step S605 shown in FIG. 6), and output control for controlling transmission of an output instruction to the print control apparatus for the print job selected in the selection step based on the determination result in the determination step (Corresponding to steps S607 and S608 shown in FIG. 6).

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the display control step (corresponding to step S608 shown in FIG. 6) includes the step of: displaying the display device when the determination step determines that the selected print job cannot be printed. In this case, it is possible to display that the print job selected cannot be printed.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control apparatus capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a print unit. A detection step (corresponding to step S403 shown in FIG. 4) for detecting the consumption amount of the consumables to be consumed, and consumption information indicating the consumption amount detected by the detection unit, which can be notified to the information processing apparatus, is included in the print job A management step of registering and managing in the storage device together with the issued job identification information (steps S409 and S4 shown in FIG. 4)
10) is recorded on a recording medium in a computer-readable manner to execute the program.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, a judging step of judging the output completion state of each print job received from the information processing apparatus (corresponding to step S507 shown in FIG. 5)
Reading the consumption information for each print job stored in the storage device and transmitting the consumption information together with a job end notification to the information processing device when it is determined in the determination step that the output of each print job is completed. Notification step (corresponding to step S411 shown in FIG. 4).

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, a print control apparatus capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit transmits the print job received from the information processing apparatus. A registration step (not shown) for registering in an external storage device in a reprintable manner in response to a request;
A detecting step (corresponding to step S501 shown in FIG. 5) of detecting the consumption amount of the consumables consumed by the printing unit based on the output of the print job; and a consumption detected by the detecting unit, which can notify the information processing apparatus. A management step of registering and managing consumption information indicating the amount in the external storage device in association with the print job (steps S508 and S50 shown in FIG. 5)
Notification step of transmitting print job information representing a print job stored in the external storage device and consumption information associated with the print job based on an acquisition request from the information processing device. (Not shown) is recorded on a recording medium in a computer-readable manner.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the notification step, the print job information representing the print job stored in the external storage device is transmitted based on a first acquisition request from the information processing device. Then, based on a second acquisition request from the information processing device, the consumption information associated with the print job selected by the information processing device is transmitted.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the print job registered in the external storage device is print information for printing a predetermined form document.

[0049] In a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the management step, job identification information is added to consumption information for each print job and registered in the external storage device.

[0050] In a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, the consumable includes paper, developer, and staples consumed by the printing process of the printing unit.

In a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the detecting step includes the step of: receiving a print job received from the information processing apparatus;
Alternatively, the amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit is detected based on any output of a print job registered in the external storage device.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, based on a registered job output control instruction received from the information processing apparatus,
An output control step of causing the printing unit to output output data generated by reading any print job registered in the external storage device.

A thirty-third invention according to the present invention is directed to an information processing apparatus capable of transferring a print job generated to a print control apparatus for controlling output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium. A first acquisition step of acquiring print job information registered and managed in the apparatus (corresponding to steps S601 and S602 shown in FIG. 6), and analyzing the print job information acquired by the first acquisition step A display control step of displaying print job names registered on the display device and consumption information of consumables consumed by print output of each print job (corresponding to step S603 shown in FIG. 6)
A selection step (corresponding to step S604 shown in FIG. 6) of selecting a print job to be printed from the print job names displayed on the display device by the display control step; A second acquisition step (corresponding to step S605 shown in FIG. 6) for acquiring the remaining amount of the consumables of the printing unit, the remaining amount acquired in the second acquisition step, and the remaining amount acquired in the first acquisition step Determining whether the print job selected by the selection unit can be printed by comparing the consumption information with the selected consumption information (corresponding to step S605 shown in FIG. 6)
And an output control step of controlling transmission of an output instruction to the print control device for the print job selected in the selection step based on the determination result in the determination step (corresponding to steps S607 and S608 shown in FIG. 6). Are recorded on a recording medium in a computer readable manner.

According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the display control step (corresponding to step S608 shown in FIG. 6) comprises:
When the determination step determines that the selected print job cannot be printed, the display device can display a message indicating that the selected print job cannot be printed.

[0055]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, a configuration of a laser beam printer suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied, and shows, for example, a case of a laser beam printer (LBP).

In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP body (hereinafter, referred to as a printer), which inputs print information (character codes, etc.), external characters, form data, macro instructions, etc., supplied from an externally connected host computer. In accordance with the information, a corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created, and an image is formed on a recording medium such as recording paper.

Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged. 1001
A printer control unit controls the entire printer 1000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 1001 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to a laser driver 1002. The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and switches on / off a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal.

Then, the laser beam 1004 is
Scanning exposure is performed on the electrostatic drum 1006 by swinging in the left-right direction in 005. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006.

This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 provided around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to a recording sheet. The developing unit 1007 is provided with a mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of toner for forming an image on recording paper, and the printer control unit 1001 is configured to detect the remaining amount of toner.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper to be transferred. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the printer 1000,
09 and the conveyance roller 1010 and the conveyance roller 1011 are taken into the apparatus and supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006. The paper cassette 1008 is provided with a paper remaining amount detection mechanism, and the printer control unit 1001 can detect the remaining paper amount.

The LBP main body 1000 has a card slot (not shown), a memory capable of writing and holding an optional font card, a control card (emulation card) having a different language system (PDL), and form data and font data in addition to the built-in font. It is configured so that a card can be connected.

A staple unit (not shown) can be mounted on the printer 1000. A plurality of sheets printed by mounting the staple unit can be stapled. The staple unit is configured to detect the remaining amount of staples, so that the printer control unit 1001 can recognize the remaining amount of the staple.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system to which the print control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. It is configured to be able to communicate bidirectionally. Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example. In addition,
As long as the function of the present invention is executed, LA or a single device or a system including a plurality of devices may be used.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system in which processing is performed via a network such as N. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is implemented by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus functions in a specific mode.

In the figure, reference numeral 2000 denotes a host computer, which is a printer control unit 1001 via a predetermined interface 3000 (for example, a bidirectional interface).
And executes communication control processing with the printer 1000.

In the printer control unit 1001,
Reference numeral 1-1 denotes a printer CPU, which comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 1-4 based on a control program stored in a control program or the like stored in a program ROM of a ROM 1-2. Then, it outputs an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 1-9 connected via a printing unit interface 1-8. The consumption measuring unit 1-10 includes a printing unit 1-9.
Various kinds of mounting information (remaining amount of paper, remaining amount of toner, etc.) detected by a consumables remaining amount detection sensor provided therein can be read via a printing unit I / F 1-8.

The program RO of the ROM 1-2 is
M contains C as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.
A control program of the PU 1-1, an image generation program for generating a bitmap image transferred to the printing unit 1-9, and the like are stored.

The font ROM of the ROM 1-2 stores font data (outline font data or dot font data) used for generating the output image.

The CPU 1-1 can communicate with the host computer 2000 via the input / output unit 1-5. Reference numeral 1-6 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 1-1, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional boat (not shown).

The RAM 1-6 includes a page buffer memory for storing data to be printed as an intermediate code or an intermediate bitmap image, a band memory for generating a bitmap image, an external character stored in the external memory 1-3, A memory area is reserved for use as a cache memory for temporarily storing registration data such as form images.

The external memory 1-3 can be connected to a secondary storage device such as a hard disk whose access is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 1-7.

The external memory 1-3 is used as a registration memory for storing registration data transferred from an external character file or form file on the host computer 2000. It is also used as a page buffer memory for storing data to be printed or form data in the form of an intermediate code or an intermediate bitmap image. Furthermore,
It is also used as a consumption information storage memory for storing consumables consumption information consumed by printing a print job by the consumption information storage unit 1-11.

Reference numeral 1012 denotes the above-described operation panel on which switches for operation, an LED display, and the like are arranged.

The above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, and one or more external memories are provided to store an emulation program for interpreting an optional font card and a printer control language of a different language system (PDL) in addition to the built-in font. The configuration may be such that a plurality of external memories can be connected. Further, the external memory is not limited to a hard disk, but may be a flash memory card. Further, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1012.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system to which the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.
Corresponds to a case in which communication with a printing apparatus (printer 1000) is possible via a predetermined interface 3000.

In the host computer 2000, 2
-1, a computer CPU, an operating system, an application program, a printer driver program stored in a program area of the HDD 2-3,
The access to various devices connected to the system bus 2-9 is generally controlled based on various programs such as a printer management program.

The management program 2-8 includes an input / output unit 2-6.
The event detection unit 2-7 detects the printer information (processing status, error information, etc.) transmitted from the printer control unit 1001 via the
This is a printer utility program that monitors the status of “0” and, when necessary, displays various types of information to the user and accepts user instructions via the display unit 2-4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. The printing system comprises the printer 1000 shown in FIG. 2 and the host computer 2000 shown in FIG. It corresponds to the consumption measurement processing procedure in the system. Note that S4
01 to S412 indicate each step.

The procedure corresponding to each of the above steps is as follows.
It is assumed that the information is stored in the ROM 1-2 and the external memory 1-3 in the printer 1000 shown in FIG. 2 and also stored in the HDD 2-3 and the like in the host computer 2000 shown in FIG.

First, H on the host computer 2000
When the user instructs printing via the operation unit 2-5, the application program stored in the DD 2-3 is
Data to be printed is stored in the spool area of the HDD 2-3 according to a format determined by the operating system. Then, when the storage of the print data in the spool area is completed, the printer driver program stored in the HDD 2-3 is started, the print data is read from the spool area, and the control language which can be opened by the printer control unit 1001 of the printer 1000 (FIG. (PDL) data, generates a print job to be transmitted, and returns to the HDD 2-3 again.
(S401).

As described above, the print job is stored in the HDD 2-3.
Then, the print job stored in the spool area of the HDD 2-3 is transmitted to the printer control unit 1001 via the input / output unit 2-6 (S).
402). At this time, the name of the transmitted print job and the name information for specifying the destination printer control unit 1001 are registered in the printer management program 2-9.

Then, the printer control unit 1001
Before the print job is received, the consumption measuring unit 1-1
0 obtains the remaining toner, paper, and staple values from the remaining amount detecting unit 1-9A in the printing unit 1-9 via the printing unit I / F 1-8, respectively.
-6 is temporarily stored in the work memory (S40).
3).

Subsequently, print data (PDL data including a control code and a character code indicating a print position) received from the host computer 2000 is read via the input / output unit 1-5 (S404), and the print data corresponding to the print data is read. The PDL analysis process is executed, the data is classified into band units corresponding to the print position specified by the control code, and stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 as intermediate data (S40).
5).

Then, the intermediate data of the same page is stored until a page end control code such as a page break command in the print data is detected. If the intermediate data of one page can be stored, the data is stored in the RAM 1-6. Of the intermediate code stored in the page buffer is sequentially bit-mapped to the bit map memory in the RAM 1-6 in band units (S
406). The bitmap image generated in this manner is transferred to the printing unit 1-9 via the printing unit I / F 1-8, and is repeatedly executed until the pit map image for one page is transferred to the printing unit. Processing is performed (S407).

When the printing of one page is completed, it is determined whether or not the print job is completed (S
408) If it is determined that the print job has been completed, the processes of steps S404 to S407 are repeatedly executed until the printing process of all the subsequent pages is completed.

On the other hand, in step S408, if it is determined that the processing of all pages has been completed and the print job has been completed, the consumption measuring unit 1-10 again executes the printing unit I / O.
The remaining values of the currently mounted toner, paper, and staples are acquired from the remaining amount detecting unit in the printing unit 1-9 via F1-8, and temporarily stored in the work memory in the RAM 1-6 in step S403. The amount consumed by printing the print job is measured by subtracting from the stored remaining amount information (S409).

Then, the consumption information management unit 1-11 associates the consumable consumption measured by the consumption measurement unit 1-10 with the print job name and stores the print job name in the work memory in the RAM 1-6 (S410). ), And notifies the input / output unit 1-5 of the end of the print job.

When the print job end notification is received from the consumption information management unit 1-11 in this way, the input / output unit 1-5
Transmits the print job name and the amount of consumables consumed by the print job to the host computer 2000 as print job end notification information using the SNMP event notification (S411).

When the event detection unit 2-7 of the host computer 2000 detects the job end notification event via the input / output unit 2-6, the management program 2-8
To the end of the print job and the consumables consumption information. In response to this, the management program 2-8 displays the print job name and the consumed consumables consumption information on the display unit 2-4 (S412), notifies the user of the end of the print job, and also displays the consumption of the print job. The product consumption status is notified, and the process ends.

In the consumables consumption measuring step S409, the remaining amount of the print job before processing is detected and stored (processing of step S403), and printing is performed by subtracting from the remaining amount detected after the print job. Although the job consumption is measured, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, by performing the processing before and after the page printing process in step S407, the consumption amount per page is detected, and the addition amount is stored in the work memory in the RAM 1-6. You may make it measure. The measured consumption may be displayed for each page.

In step S411, the consumption information measured as the print job end notification information and the job I
D is transmitted to the host computer 2000 and displayed on the display unit 2-4, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the consumption amount may be displayed on the operation panel 1012 of the printer 1000. Further, the present invention may be configured to execute not only the measured consumption amount but also various processes using the consumption amount information.

Further, a print job name and a user name for measuring the consumption amount are stored in the external memory 1-3 in advance.
It may be configured to add up only the consumption amount consumed in the printing process of the print job that matches the stored name information.

Thus, it is possible to manage the consumption of only a specific business output within the user's use range of the printing apparatus such as form form output, and to measure the consumption per print job output by the user. Can be.

Based on the measurement information, the accounting information can be used as flexible accounting information for each print job, such as acquiring accounting information only for a print job for a specific job.

Note that step S401 shown in FIG.
Steps S412 to S412 show a case where the printing system performs a series of processes. In each step, programs corresponding to the steps of the host computer 2000 and the printer 1000 are stored independently of each other. Needless to say, the process is executed as an independent process with the printer 1000. That is, the processing in the printing system can be separated into a processing procedure on the information processing apparatus side and a processing procedure on the printing apparatus side. Therefore, it is not possible to configure the information processing apparatus or the printing apparatus characterized by each processing. It goes without saying that this is within the scope of the present invention.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. The printer 1000 shown in FIG.
And a host computer 2000 shown in FIG. 3 in the printing system. S501 to S509 indicate each step.

As described above, in the host computer 2000, it is assumed that the generated print job is transmitted to the printer control unit 1001.
Perform the following processing.

First, in the printer control unit 1001, prior to receiving a print job, the consumption measuring unit 1- 1
A RAM 10 acquires the remaining toner, paper, and staple values from the remaining amount detecting unit 1-9A in the printing unit 1-9 via the printing unit I / F 1-8. Is temporarily stored in the work memory (S501).

Subsequently, print data (PDL data including a control code and a character code indicating a print position) received from the host computer 2000 is read via the input / output unit 1-5 (S502), and the print data corresponding to the print data is read. The PDL analysis process is executed, and the generated intermediate data is stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 in the band unit corresponding to the print position specified by the control code (S5).
03). The print data is stored as intermediate data of the same page until a page end control code such as a page break command is detected in the print data.

When the intermediate data for one page can be stored, the intermediate codes stored in the page buffer in the RAM 1-6 are sequentially bit-mapped into bit map memories in the RAM 1-6 in band units. An output bitmap is generated (S504), and the generated bitmap image is stored in the external memory 1-3 via the memory controller 1-7 in the external memory 1-3. The output bitmap image for one page is registered by repeatedly executing until the registration is completed (S505).

The output bitmap image registered in the external memory 1-3 is read out and transferred to the printing unit 1-9 via the printing unit I / F 1-8, thereby performing a printing process for one page. (S506).

Next, it is determined whether the print job has been completed (S507). If it is determined that the print job has not been completed, steps S502 to S502 are performed until all subsequent pages have been printed. The processing of S506 is repeatedly executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S507 that the processing of all pages has been completed and the print job has been completed, the consumption measuring unit 1-10 returns to the printing unit I / F1-
8 to obtain the remaining toner, paper, and staple remaining values from the remaining amount detecting unit of the printing unit 1-9 via the printer 8;
In step S501, the amount consumed by printing the print job is measured by subtracting from the remaining amount information temporarily stored in the work memory in the RAM 1-6 (S508).

Then, the consumption information management unit 1-11 stores the consumables consumption measured by the consumption measurement unit 1-10 and the job attribute information (step S505) of the print job stored in the external memory 1-3. Consumables consumption information (sheet number, size, toner consumption, staple staple consumption) is stored as one item of the job name, honor name, registration date, job size, and the like (S509), and the process ends.

Here, it has been described that the output processing and the registration processing of the print job are performed simultaneously, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be such that only the print job registration process is executed, and after the job registration is completed, the output process is executed. In this case, the consumption information management unit 1-11
Will store the print job registered in the external memory 1-3 in association with the consumption amount measured in the output process.

Further, a form page for form overlay may be stored in the registration of the print job. In this case, test printing of only the form page is performed to measure the consumption.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. The printing system comprises the printer 1000 shown in FIG. 2 and the host computer 2000 shown in FIG. This corresponds to a print job reprinting procedure in the system. In addition, S601 to S611 indicate each step.

HDD 2 on host computer 2000
When the management program 2-8 stored in the printer control unit 1 is started, the printer control unit 1 is controlled via the input / output unit 2-6.
The attribute information (print job name, owner name, etc.) of the registered print job in the external memory 1-3 is acquired (S601). Similarly, consumables consumption information for each print job stored as attribute information is acquired (S602).
When the attribute information on all the print job information stored in the printer control unit 1001 is acquired in this manner, the reprintable job information is displayed on the display unit 2-4 (S603), and the user operates the operation unit 2 -5 provides a user interface that allows a user to select a reprint of a print job.

Then, when the user selects a specific print job on the user interface (S604), the remaining amount of consumables currently attached to the printer control unit 1001 is acquired via the input / output unit 2-6 (S604). S605).

Here, the printer control unit 1001
When the consumption information management unit 1-11 receives the consumable information of the print job registered from the management program 2-8 and the acquisition command of the remaining amount of the consumables loaded in the apparatus, the consumption information management unit 1-11 outputs the command based on the instruction command. Read the consumables consumption information of the print job stored in the memory 1-3, or
Remaining amount information is obtained from a remaining amount detecting sensor (remaining amount detecting unit 1-9A) in the printing unit 1-9 via the printing unit I / F 1-8, and the host computer is obtained via the input / output unit 1-5. 200
Send to 0.

Then, the consumption information of the print job selected for reprinting is compared with the remaining amount of the consumables currently loaded in the apparatus, and if the print job is reprinted, it is determined whether or not a shortage of consumables occurs. It is determined, that is, it is determined whether or not the consumables are sufficient (S606), and when it is determined that the consumables are insufficient (NO in step S606).
Displays a warning indicating that a consumable shortage error has occurred (S60).
8) Return to step S601.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S606 that normal printing is possible even if the printer control unit 1001 is instructed to print, that is, if it is determined that the consumables are sufficient, the printing selected by the user is performed. The job print instruction command is sent to the printer control unit 10 of the printer 1000.
01 (S607).

When the printer control unit 1001 of the printer 1000 receives the print instruction command from the host computer 2000 (S609), the designated print job is read from the external memory 1-3 (S61).
0), the printing process is executed by transmitting the data to the printing unit 1-9 via the printing unit I / F 1-8 (S611), and the process ends.

It should be noted that step S601 shown in FIG.
Steps S611 to S611 show a case where the printing system performs a series of processes. In each step, programs corresponding to the steps of the host computer 2000 and the printer 1000 are stored independently. Needless to say, the process is executed as an independent process with the printer 1000. That is, the processing in the printing system can be separated into a processing procedure on the information processing apparatus side and a processing procedure on the printing apparatus side. Therefore, it is not possible to configure the information processing apparatus or the printing apparatus characterized by each processing. It goes without saying that this is within the scope of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by a printing system to which the information processing apparatus and print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by a printing system to which the information processing apparatus and the print control apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator and the like are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. Also, a program for installing various programs on a computer, and a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed, may be stored in some cases.

The functions shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention can be applied to a case in which a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program code of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is provided.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
D-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

According to the above-described embodiment, the consumption of consumables (such as the number of sheets, toner consumption, and staples) actually consumed by the print job is measured, and the consumption information of the print job is stored in the storage area. By doing so, the amount of consumption for each print job can be accurately grasped, and a printing system that is easier to use in various situations of the printing system can be provided.

By storing consumables consumption information as attribute information of print jobs and form jobs registered in a large-capacity storage in the printing system,
It is possible to provide a printing system in which a user can easily confirm the consumption amount consumed by the output of a print job before giving a print instruction.

[0128]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the thirty-fourth aspect, in a print control apparatus capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a print unit, the print unit outputs the print job before and after the print job is output. The consumption amount of the consumable consumed by the printer is detected, and the detected consumption amount is registered and managed in the storage device for each print job as consumption information that can be notified to the information processing apparatus. In addition, it is possible to freely construct a convenient print processing environment in which the amount of consumables consumed in the printing unit is accurately grasped and freely notified according to a request from the information processing apparatus.

Further, in a print control apparatus capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit, a print job received from the information processing apparatus can be reprinted in response to a request. Registered in an external storage device, before and after the output of the print job, the consumption of the consumables consumed by the printing unit by the output of the print job is detected, and the detected consumption can be notified to the information processing apparatus. As information is registered and managed in the storage device for each print job,
Convenience of accurately grasping the amount of consumables actually consumed by the printing unit in each print job registered to be reprintable on the print control device side and notifying the user freely when requested by the information processing device It is possible to freely construct an excellent print processing environment.

Further, in an information processing apparatus capable of transferring a print job generated to a print control apparatus for controlling output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium, a print job registered and managed in the print control apparatus is provided. The print job information is acquired, the acquired print job information is analyzed, and the print job name registered on the display device and the consumption information of the consumables consumed by the print output of each print job are displayed. When a print job to be printed is selected from the print job names obtained, the remaining amount of the consumables of the printing unit detected by the print control device is acquired, and the acquired remaining amount and the acquired consumption information are compared. And determining whether the selected print job can be printed, and controlling transmission of an output instruction to the print control device for the print job selected by the selection unit based on the determination result. , Clearly to the user obtains the consumption information for each print job that is managed by the printing control device for each print job registered in the transfer to the print control apparatus,
In addition to allowing the user to recognize the amount of consumables consumed in each job, the user is notified that a print job selected to be reprinted cannot be printed with the remaining amount of consumables obtained from the print control device. It is possible to freely construct a print processing environment which can be clearly specified and has excellent convenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an output device to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system to which the print control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system to which the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a third data processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a printing system to which the information processing device and the print control device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 CPU 1-2 ROM 1-3 External memory 1-4 System bus 1-5 Input / output unit 1-6 RAM 1-9 Printing unit 1-10 Consumption measurement unit 1-11 Consumption information management unit 1000 Printer 1001 Printer control unit 1012 Operation panel 2000 Host computer 2-1 CPU 2-2 RAM 2-3 HDD 2-4 Display unit 2-5 Operation unit 2-6 Input / output unit 2-7 Event detection unit 2-8 Management program 2- 9 System bus

Claims (34)

[Claims] 1. A printing control device capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit, the control unit comprising: Detection means for detecting the consumption amount, and management for registering and managing the consumption information indicating the consumption amount detected by the detection means together with the job identification information issued for the print job in a storage device, which can notify the information processing apparatus. And a printing control device. A determining unit that determines an output completion state of each print job received from the information processing apparatus; and when the determining unit determines that the output of each print job is completed, the determination unit stores the output completion state in the storage device. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: notification means for reading consumption information for each print job and transmitting the consumption information together with a job end notification to the information processing apparatus. 3. A print control device capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit, wherein the print job received from the information processing device is replayed in response to a request. Registration means for registering in the external storage device in a printable manner, detection means for detecting the amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit by outputting a print job, and detection by the detection means capable of notifying an information processing device Management means for registering and managing consumption information indicating the consumed amount in the external storage device in association with a print job, and printing stored in the external storage device based on an acquisition request from the information processing device. A print control apparatus, comprising: a notification unit configured to transmit print job information indicating a job and consumption information associated with the print job. 4. The notification means transmits print job information representing a print job stored in the external storage device based on a first acquisition request from the information processing device, and transmits the print job information from the information processing device. 4. The print control device according to claim 3, wherein consumption information associated with the print job selected by the information processing device is transmitted based on the acquisition request of (2). 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print job registered in the external storage device is print information for printing a predetermined form document. 6. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the management unit adds job identification information to consumption information for each print job and registers the information in the external storage device. 7. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumables include paper, a developing material, and staples consumed by a printing process of the printing unit. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is configured to detect a consumption amount of the consumables consumed by the printing unit by outputting either a print job received from the information processing apparatus or a print job registered in the external storage device. The printing control device according to claim 3, wherein the detection is performed. 9. An output control for reading out one of the print jobs registered in the external storage device based on a registered job output control instruction received from the information processing device and outputting from the printing unit output data generated. 4. The printing control device according to claim 3, further comprising: means. 10. The print control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print control apparatus is capable of receiving a print job by communicating with a plurality of information processing apparatuses via the predetermined communication medium. 11. An information processing apparatus capable of transferring a print job generated to a print control apparatus that controls output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the information processing apparatus is registered and managed by the print control apparatus. A first acquisition unit for acquiring print job information, a print job name registered in a display device by analyzing the print job information acquired by the first acquisition unit, and a print output of each print job. Display control means for displaying consumption information of consumables to be used; selecting means for selecting a print job to be printed from the print job names displayed on the display device by the display control means; detecting by the print control apparatus Second obtaining means for obtaining the remaining amount of the consumables of the printing unit, and the remaining amount obtained by the second obtaining means and the consumption information obtained by the first obtaining means. By comparing the,
Determining means for determining whether the print job selected by the selecting means can be printed; and outputting an output instruction to the print control device for the print job selected by the selecting means based on a determination result by the determining means. An information processing apparatus, comprising: output control means for controlling transmission. 12. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays, on the display device, a print failure of the selected print job when the determining unit determines that the selected print job cannot be printed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, which performs the processing. 13. A data processing method in a print control apparatus capable of controlling output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a print unit, wherein the print job is consumed by the print unit by outputting the print job. Detecting the consumption amount of the consumables, and registering the consumption information indicating the consumption amount detected by the detection means, which can be notified to the information processing device, together with the job identification information issued to the print job in the storage device. And a management step of managing the data. 14. A determination step of determining an output completion state of each print job received from the information processing apparatus, and when the determination step determines that the output of each print job has been completed, the print job is stored in the storage device. 14. The data processing method according to claim 13, further comprising a notification step of reading consumption information for each print job and transmitting the consumption information together with a job end notification to the information processing apparatus. 15. A data processing method in a print control device capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit, wherein the print job is a request for the print job received from the information processing device. A registration step of registering in the external storage device in a reprintable manner in accordance with, a detection step of detecting a consumption amount of consumables consumed by the printing unit by outputting a print job, and A management step of registering and managing consumption information indicating the amount of consumption detected by the detection means in the external storage device in association with a print job, and storing the consumption information in the external storage device based on an acquisition request from the information processing device A print job information indicating the print job being executed and a notification step of transmitting consumption information associated with the print job. Data processing method. 16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting print job information representing a print job stored in the external storage device based on a first acquisition request from the information processing device; 16. The data processing method according to claim 15, wherein consumption information associated with the print job selected by the information processing device is transmitted based on the acquisition request of (2). 17. The data processing method according to claim 15, wherein the print job registered in the external storage device is print information for printing a predetermined form document. 18. The data processing method according to claim 15, wherein said managing step adds job identification information to consumption information for each print job and registers the information in the external storage device. 19. The data processing method according to claim 13, wherein the consumable supplies include paper, a developing material, and staples consumed by a printing process of the printing unit. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the detecting step includes determining whether a print job received from the information processing device or a print job registered in the external storage device is output. 16. The data processing method according to claim 15, wherein the detection is performed. 21. An output control unit that reads out any print job registered in the external storage device and outputs output data generated by the printing unit based on a registered job output control instruction received from the information processing device. The data processing method according to claim 15, further comprising a step. 22. A data processing method in an information processing device capable of transferring a print job generated to a print control device that controls an output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium, the data processing method comprising: A first obtaining step of obtaining print job information registered and managed; a print job name registered in a display device by analyzing the print job information obtained by the first obtaining step; A display control step of displaying consumption information of consumables consumed by print output; a selection step of selecting a print job to be printed from the print job names displayed on the display device by the display control step; A second acquisition step of acquiring the remaining amount of the consumables of the printing unit detected by the control device; A determination step of comparing the remaining amount with the consumption information obtained in the first obtaining step to determine whether or not the print job selected by the selection means can be printed; and An output control step of controlling transmission of an output instruction to the print control device for the print job selected in the selection step. 23. The display control step, when the determination step determines that the selected print job cannot be printed, enables display of the selected print job to be unprintable on the display device. 23. The data processing method according to claim 22, wherein: 24. A print control device capable of controlling the output of a print job received from an information processing apparatus via a predetermined communication medium by a print unit, wherein a consumption amount of consumables consumed by the print unit by outputting the print job. And a management step of registering and managing, in a storage device, consumption information indicating a consumption amount detected by the detection unit, together with job identification information issued for the print job, which can be notified to an information processing device. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the program. 25. A determining step of determining the output completion state of each print job received from the information processing apparatus; and when the determining step determines that the output of each print job has been completed, the information is stored in the storage device. 25. The storage medium according to claim 24, further comprising: a notification step of reading consumption information for each print job and transmitting the consumption information together with a job end notification to the information processing apparatus. 26. A print control device capable of controlling output of a print job received from an information processing device via a predetermined communication medium by a printing unit, and a print job received from the information processing device can be reprinted upon request. A registration step of registering the information in the external storage device, a detection step of detecting a consumption amount of the consumables consumed in the printing unit by outputting a print job, and a detection step that is capable of notifying an information processing apparatus. A management step of registering and managing the consumption information indicating the consumption amount in the external storage device in association with the print job, and a print job stored in the external storage device based on an acquisition request from the information processing device. A computer that records a program for executing a print step of transmitting print job information to be transmitted and consumption information associated with the print job. Ri storage medium. 27. The notifying step includes transmitting print job information representing a print job stored in the external storage device based on a first acquisition request from the information processing device, 27. The storage medium according to claim 26, wherein consumption information associated with the print job selected by the information processing device is transmitted based on the acquisition request of (2). 28. The storage medium according to claim 26, wherein the print job registered in the external storage device is print information for printing a predetermined form document. 29. The storage medium according to claim 26, wherein in the management step, job identification information is added to consumption information for each print job and registered in the external storage device. 30. The storage medium according to claim 24, wherein the consumables include paper, a developer, and staples consumed by a printing process of the printing unit. 31. The detecting step according to claim 30, wherein the consumption of the consumables consumed by the printing unit by outputting a print job received from the information processing device or a print job registered in the external storage device. The storage medium according to claim 24, wherein the storage medium is detected. 32. An output control for reading out any print job registered in the external storage device and outputting output data generated by the printing unit based on a registered job output control instruction received from the information processing device. The storage medium according to claim 24, further comprising a step. 33. An information processing apparatus capable of transferring a print job generated to a print control apparatus that controls output of a printing unit via a predetermined communication medium, the printing being registered and managed by the print control apparatus. A first obtaining step of obtaining job information; a print job name registered in a display device by analyzing the print job information obtained in the first obtaining step; and a print output of each print job. A display control step of displaying consumption information of consumables; a selection step of selecting a print job to be printed from the print job names displayed on the display device by the display control step; A second acquisition step of acquiring the remaining amount of the consumables of the printing unit; and the remaining amount acquired in the second acquisition step and the first acquisition step. Determining whether the print job selected by the selection unit can be printed by comparing the consumption information acquired by the selection unit with the consumption information obtained by the selection unit. And an output control step of controlling transmission of an output instruction to the print control apparatus with respect to a print job. 34. The display control step, wherein when the determination step determines that the selected print job cannot be printed, the display device can display a print failure of the selected print job on the display device. 34. The storage medium according to claim 33.